Marcellus cole



(-No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. COLE. PILTERING APPARATUS.

.No. 440,239. Patented Nov. 11 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M.. COLE.

FILTBRING APPARATUS. I A No. 440,239. Patented No 11 1890.

93m attOTJMZAjM UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

MAROELLUS COLE, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FILTERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,239, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed February 8, 1890- Serial No. 339,629. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAROELLUS COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filtering Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference mark ed thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for filtering liquids, more especiallv water-the supply from the ordinary water-mains of cities, &c., and has for its object to generally improve such devices.

W'ith this object in view my invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and afterward specifically pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my apparatus complete, parts being broken away to show some of the interior. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing certain details of construction, fully explained hereinafter. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the positions of the plugs of the three-way valves. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same parts in a different position. Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing the construction and positions of the diaphragms covering the sponges.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by letters of reference, A is the ordinary service or supply pipe, to being the inlet and a the outletthereof. In such pipe A, between the inlet and outlet, are fixed my filtering devices, consisting of a tank or section of larger pipe B for containing gravel or clean sharp sand, as at b, and a similar tank or section 0, divided by a perforated diaphragm G into two apart ments containing animal charcoal, as at c, and wood charcoal, as at c.

D is a three-way valve, (shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) by means of which the flow of water may be directed through pi peA and the filtering-tanks, or may be, when desired, turned therefrom through apipe E, thus passing around the filtering-tanks.

F is another three-way valve, by means of which the water may be passed directly through pipe A; or when the water is passing through pipe E it may be passed out at a or turned backward in a pipe A, so as to pass through the filtering-tanks in the reverse direction, so as to clean these tanks and their contents.

G is an other three-way valve, located in the pipe A between the two filtering-tanks and at the junction of a pipe H with said pipe A. By means of this valve water passing through pipe A and tank B may be allowed to pass straight on through tank 0, or may be caused to flow out through pipe H, and when the flow is reversed will permit the water which is passing in the reverse direction through tank 0 to pass straight on through tank B or to be turned aside through pipe H. When this reversed current is allowed to pass through tank B, it is turned aside through branch H and passed out through pipe H, there being another three-way valve I at the junction of pipeA and branch H. By means of another three-way valve J at the junction of pipe H and branch H and the other valves described the inward-flowing water may be so directed that it can pass through branch H and pipe H, thus avoiding the first filtering-tank B and passing through tank 0.

All of the three-way valves are of the same construction, so that a description and illustration of one of them in detail will be sufficient for an understanding of all.

A three-way valve Q is located at the junction of pipe A and a pipe B, so that the water passing either through the filtering-tanks or around them may be permitted to pass on to a, or diverted to pass through pipe R when desired.

In Figs. 2 to 7 I have illustrated the de tails of construction of the various parts, and show in Fig. 2 a section through that part of the piping which lies between the two tanks.

The filtering-tanks may be of any desired shape or construction, being shown in this instance as a section of large pipe, closed at the ends by heads K K and L L, which are provided with projecting nipples 7c 1 Z, thus forming also reducers. These nipples are utilized as sponge-receptacles, and are constructed as follows: (See Figs. 2, 5, and 6.)

M M are grooves in the interior provided with right-angular ends m m.

N N are perforated plates of a size to fit snugly in these nipples, and are provided with ears 91 on the sides. The plate N is placed with its ears in the grooves'and slipped 1n until it reaches the right-angled end thereof, when it is turned and held in position. A piece of sponge or other similar material is now placed in the nipple resting against the plate. The plate N is now placed in position on top of the sponge and held there in the same manner.

O is a small vessel or tank having communication with pipe A through two small pipes P P, each of which has a valve, as p p, in it.

0' is the screw-capped opening through which the tank is filled.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I can by manipulating the valves perform all the necessary operations for filtering and testing the water-supply.

The water-supply may be made to pass directly through pipe A and tanks B G and to continue through a to the distributing dev1ces through the house. By turning the valve Q the water can be caused to pass through pipe R and drawn therefrom for the purpose of testing or for use by manipulating its valve or cock 1*. Should the passage of the water through tank 0 be deemed unnecessary, it can be diverted through pipe H by turning valve G, and can be taken from pipe H for use by means of cock h. Should it be desired to get the water without passing it through either tank, it can be diverted through branch H and pipe H. Pipe H may be constructed with a nozzle h for the attachment of a hose for street-Washing or other purposes. The flow can be reversed, so that the filtering matter can be flushed or cleaned, and when so reversed can be made to pass through pipe E and then back through tank 0 and out through pipe H; or it may pass also through tank B, branch H, and pipe H. Tank B may be flushed by causing the water to flow through valve I, branch H, pipe I-I, valve G, back through tank A, and thence out through escape-valve S.

The tank 0 is provided so that a small quantity of alum may be let into pipe A, when desired.

The sponges provided at each end of each tank, held between the perforated plates, as described, serve to prevent the washing-out of the material in the tanks and assist in the filtering operation.

The three-way valves are formed in T- joints having right and left threaded ends.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In combination, the pipe A, tank B, having a sponge-receptacle at each end, tank 0, having two compartments separated by per forated plates 0, and sponge-receptacle at each end, the three-way valves D, F, and G, and the pipes E and H, as set forth.

2. In combination, the tank B, the pipe A, leading into and out of said tank, the pipe H, leading from pipe A beyond the tank and having outlet-valve at its outer end, the threeway valve at the junction of pipes A and H, the branch pipe H, connecting the pipe H with pipe A in front of tank B, and the three- Way valves at the junction of pipes H and A with said branch pipe H, as set forth.

3. In combination, the pipe A, the tanks B and C in the line thereof, the pipe E, leading from a point in pipe A in front of tank B to a point therein beyond tank C, the threeway valves D and F at these junctions, the escape-valve s in pipeA between valve D and tank B, the pipe R, joining pipe A beyond the valve F and having outlet-valve, and the three-way valve Q at the junction of pipe R with pipe A, as set forth.

4:. In combination, the reducers or heads for the tanks having nipples provided with interior rectangular grooves, with the two perforated plates fitting the interior of said nippies and having ears to fit and move in said grooves, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARCELLUS COLE.

WVitnesses:

S. BRASHEARS, J r., M. P. CALLAN. 

